Day 5

Today is my last day in Lourdes as i am about to leave to head to the airport for my flight but i thought i should write this post on my overall thoughts on this trip.


This trip has been so amazing and i could not have asked for better people to help share this experience with.


That's all for now

Back to Australia


Melissa Michael

Day 4

Welcome to the last day of the pilgrimage in Lourdes, France. Today we went sightseeing and kind of looked at all these other amazing places in Lourdes. We even caught up with some people on the tour who actually live in Lourdes an just had a fun day. We really got to see what its like living there, and the most amazing shops were there with beautiful things all dedicated to Mary.


We all got to know each other better than three days ago where my two best friends and i barely knew anyone, now its like 4 peas in a pod instead of 2 since we could be sisters with what we have in common.

Afterwards we went to the beach to watch the sunset and also take just the most amazing reflections to help describe what our trip was really about.

We all decided to tell our highlights and lowlights of our trip. My highlight of the trip was spening every minute with my friends and putting my faith in Mary. I don't have a lowlight as this trip was just so amazing it is impossible to describe it.


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Melissa Michael

Day 3

Welcome to day 3 of my pilgrimage to get closer to the Virgin Mary. Today we continued our tour and had group activities sort of like a camp where we reflect on why Mary came to Bernadette?, why is she the Immaculate Conception?, why do we put our faith into Mary?, What makes her the amazing person that looks down to us today and guides us?

We all started by introducing ourselves and most of the people could speak fluent French so we couln't really understand much but we managed to make friends with them. We all told the tour guide why we were here in a room with 16 other people in Lourdes. My two best friends and i said that we were here to get closer to Mary and understand why we look up to her as such a miraculous person.


The tour guide then invited one of the Priests in Lourdes who holds masses at the Grotto. He preached to us about why we love Mary and why is she classified as the Immaculate Conception?

He told us that Mary said yes to God, she said yes to everyone no matter who and put her faith in God, she was at Jesus' feet when he was crucified. Mary was an amazing person an still is in her own right.

We then played some games and made a little campfire outside and mingled and mingled for hours. After we mingled, we then had reflection time where we had to look into the fire and think of the wonderful times in our lives.



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Melissa Michael

Day 2

Welcome to Day 2 of this pilgrimage in Lourdes, France. Today we went to the Basilica of the Rosary which is one of the several places of worship in Lourdes . It is also known as the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception because yes it was a replacement in 1889 of the chapel where the Virgin Mary also appeared. The Basilica of the Rosary was consecrated in 1901. This was dedicated too the Virgin Mary as she had complete faith in God and is a miraculous woman in her own right.

The Basilica of the Rosary was a Byzantine-influence Romanesque style design and can hold up to almost 80,000 people. I was just so amazed at not only how many people were there, i was also amazed with how many people put their faith in the wonderful Blessed Mary.


When Mary appeared at Lourdes, she was described by St Bernadette as holding a rosary in her hand which is why The Basilica of the Rosary was dedicated to this theme with its three arches depicting the joyful, sorrowful, an glorious mysteries.

We as Catholics meditate on these mysteries while saying the rosary. In the central dome the transepts and sanctuaries contain 15 Chapels of the Mysteries, which are decorated with mosaics depicting the 15 mysteries of the rosary which are the five joyous, five sorrowful and the five glorious). 



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Melissa Michael

Day 1

I have just arrived in Lourdes, France and it is just so relaxing and warm since it is the end of spring. I have come to Lourdes with my two best friends on a pilgrimage for 5 days  to be more closer to Mary the Mother of God and what she significantly did that makes us love Mary even more than what we already do. Lourdes is located in the South of France and is We are at the pilgrimage site and the first thing we see is the Grotto. The Grotto is aesthetically pleasing and reminds me of a castle with how its stylised especially with the white and bridges. The Grotto is famous for where the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Bernadette of Lourdes 18 times in 1858. The Grotto is a special and reflective place to spend a few quiet moments and you can also light a candle for those intentions that you have on someone who is not present with you. People have proposed marriage outside this wonderful place i mean why wouldn't you it's so amazing and breathtaking. Outdoor masses are taken place regularly and the Rosary is prayed everyday at 6:45pm every day whether its raining or sunny. We prayed all of today and we felt very good and felt a special connection to Mary.

I have had so much fun although it is the first day i am looking forward to so much more to do and places to visit in Lourdes, France.

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Melissa Michael

P.S. Here are some pictures from my trip so far.